FAQs

Application Deadline August 1st

Frequently Asked Questions

Course Prerequisites

Can I apply if I still need to complete a course prerequisite?

Technically, all course prerequisites need to be completed prior to applying in order to be competitive. Depending upon the completeness and competitiveness of your entire application, the Admissions Committee will consider an applicant who is completing one and only one course prerequisite during the fall semester. If you are completing one final course during the fall, be sure it is listed under “Courses in Progress” on the CASPA application. It is your responsibility to send an official transcript directly to the PA Program as soon as the final grade is available so we can include it in the review of your application.

What should I do if I submit my CASPA application in the spring and still plan to take courses during the summer?

Be sure to list all “in progress” and “planned” courses on the CASPA application. As soon as final grades are available, it is your responsibility to notify the program and promptly send an official transcript directly to the program office so we can update your file. We do not have early decision or rolling admissions, so there is no advantage to submitting your application early. If you are still taking courses in the spring and summer semesters, you might consider waiting to submit your CASPA application so that the grades appear on your application. Otherwise, it is your responsibility to send official transcripts directly to the program once the final grades are available. All applications will be considered as long as they are complete and are submitted prior to the August 1 deadline and verified by CASPA by August 31.

Does Northeastern have a Supplemental Application?

We do not have an actual separate supplemental application. Additional required program-specific questions are now completed through CASPA. The only material that needs to be mailed directly the PA Program is:

Northeastern PA Program Data Sheet only if you are not a current Northeastern senior or bachelor’s degree alum

$75 Northeastern PA Program application fee only if you are not a current Northeastern senior or bachelor’s degree alumnus

What should I do if my Anatomy and Physiology courses were taken more than 10 years ago?

If your Anatomy and Physiology coursework is over 10 years old, you will need to re-take it. There are no substitute courses for A&P. The Admissions Committee will accept re-taking A&P courses either online or in-class at either a regionally accredited 2-year or 4-year institution. A one-semester Anatomy and Physiology course is not adequate. Human, vertebrate, or animal A&P are all acceptable.

What if my Anatomy and Physiology courses did not include a lab and are only 3-credit courses?

An Anatomy and Physiology lab is not required. The Admissions Committee does not evaluate the Anatomy and Physiology prerequisite based upon course credits. Rather it is the course content that is important. Anatomy and Physiology must cover the entire body from head to toe, including all body systems.

What type of biology and chemistry courses are acceptable?

All biology and chemistry lecture and lab courses must be the “hard core” science courses that are considered “pre-med” or “science major” courses by the regionally accredited school offering them. Biology and chemistry lecture courses and labs may be taken in class or online. Biology and chemistry courses intended for non-science majors are not adequate.

Will courses taken during the summer term fulfill prerequisites?

Yes, as long as these courses are considered equivalent courses by the school offering them and they adhere to our guidelines regarding the type and content of the course and where they are taken.

Will I satisfy the biology prerequisite if I earned a grade below a solid B in one biology lecture course but earned grades of solid B or better in at least 2 other biology lecture courses?

Yes. You need to have a minimum of 2 biology lectures plus 1 biology lab with grades of solid B or better in order to satisfy the biology prerequisite. For example, if you took 5 biology lecture courses and earned grades below solid B in only 2 of them, you would still have 3 biology lectures with grades of solid B or better. Any combination of biology courses (basic and upper level) taken at a regionally-accredited institution is fine.

Will I satisfy the chemistry prerequisite if I earned a grade below a solid B in one chemistry lecture course but earned grades of a solid B or better in at least 2 other chemistry lecture courses?

Yes. You need to have a minimum of 2 chemistry lectures plus 1 chemistry lab with grades of solid B or better in order to satisfy the chemistry prerequisite. For example, if you took 5 chemistry lecture courses and earned grades below solid B in only 2 of them, you would still have 3 chemistry lectures with grades of solid B or better. Any combination of chemistry courses (basic and upper level) taken at a regionally-accredited institution is fine.

Hands-On Patient Care Experience

What does “hands-on” patient care experience mean?

The Admissions Committee defines hands-on patient care experience as working one-on-one with patients. Examples of hands-on skills include, but are not limited to: taking vital signs, doing ECGs, drawing blood, changing bandages and dressings, splinting, casting, removing sutures, bathing and toileting. Jobs that involve counseling patients on medical procedures, protocols, or treatment plans may be acceptable but may be considered less competitive than positions that require direct physical patient contact. The job title of the position is not as important as the specific duties performed.

Does volunteer work count as hands-on patient care experience?

Because of liability concerns, volunteers are usually unable to provide the type of hands-on patient care we require. However, there may be some circumstances in which volunteer situations may provide an opportunity for hands-on patient care, most notably that of a volunteer EMT. Volunteer experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Will taking care of a family member be considered sufficient to fulfill the hands-on patient care prerequisite?

While you may be performing hands-on patient care procedures, caring for a relative will not fulfill the hands-on patient care prerequisite. The Admissions Committee considers full-time paid employment in a medical care setting to be the most appropriate type of experience.

What if I have not completed the necessary hours of hands-on patient care experience by the application deadline?

The Admissions Committee will consider fewer hours depending upon the type and intensity of your experience. For example, having 900 hours of hands-on patient care experience as an EMT doing only patient transfer would not be as competitive as an applicant who has 800 hours of hands-on patient care experience working as an ER tech. The latter provides a greater opportunity for a variety and intensity of patient care experience.

Application Deadlines

Do you have early decision or rolling admissions?

No. All applications will be given full consideration as long as they are complete and are submitted by the August 1 deadline and we receive the verified CASPA application by August 31. Applying early does not necessarily mean that your application will be reviewed earlier. Notification about interviews is generally sent out via email starting in August and continues through the fall. Final decisions regarding interviews and acceptance are usually finalized by mid-January.

Can I apply while I am still a senior in college?

The Admissions Committee will consider an application from a college senior as long as he/she has successfully completed all of the course prerequisites and has significant hands-on patient care experience prior to the August 1 deadline.

Will I still be considered if I submit my CASPA application by the August 1 deadline but the program does not receive it for another 2 to 4 weeks?

As long as your CASPA application is submitted to CASPA by August 1, it will still be reviewed as long as it has been verified and sent to us by CASPA by August 31. However, your CASPA application will not be reviewed if your Northeastern application fee of $75 (if applicable) is not received by the program by the August 1 deadline. Complete applications are necessary for further consideration. Remember that around the August 1 CASPA submission deadline, it can take over 4 weeks for CASPA to verify and forward the material to us.

Application Evaluation

What criteria are used to evaluate applications?

The evaluation of applications has two phases. Applications are initially screened to ensure that an applicant has satisfied the basic prerequisites (bachelor’s degree, minimum 3.0 overall and science GPAs, specific coursework with minimum grades of solid B or better, and approximately 2000 hours of hands-on patient care experience). All components of the application are equally important. The next phase of evaluation involves comparing all applicants who meet the basic prerequisites with one another.

What is the profile of the ideal candidate?

There is none. We look at the entire application to get a sense of the whole individual. Students accepted into the program have a wide array of personal, educational, and employment backgrounds. No one type is better than another. The diversity of our classes creates an exciting and stimulating learning environment for both students and instructors. The application pool varies from year to year making it difficult to predict what types of things an applicant can do, above and beyond satisfying the basic prerequisites, to stand out.

How many applications are typically received?

Last year, the program received close to 900 CASPA applications.

What is the average GPA of the most recently admitted class?

Focusing on an average GPA can be misleading. Students who are accepted to the program need to have at least a 3.0 overall GPA. Applicants with the highest overall GPAs are not necessarily always more competitive. Many factors besides overall undergrad GPAs are taken into consideration: science GPAs, specific prerequisites courses and grades, type and amount of hands-on patient care experience, clinically-related personal references, the application essays, and the personal interview. All of these criteria are important, and one does not take the place of another.

What if my overall or science GPA is slightly below 3.0?

Application to the program is extremely competitive. Eligible applicants must have both overall and science GPAs of greater than or equal to 3.0 in order to be considered for admission.

How are GPAs calculated?

We use the overall and science GPAs as calculated by CASPA.

If accepted, can I defer enrollment for a year?

No, we do not offer deferments. If an applicant is accepted but does not matriculate, he/she would have to reapply with no guarantee of future acceptance.

If I am not accepted into the program, is there a way I can appeal this decision?

Applicants who have been interviewed but who have not been accepted or wait-listed may appeal the decision directly to the Program Director.

Student Schedule

What is the typical student schedule?

The program is a full-time day program. There is no part-time option. During the first year, students will have classes Monday through Friday, generally from 8:00 a.m. to at least 5:00 p.m. Occasionally, there may be a special evening lab or demonstration which students are made aware of well in advance. While on rotation during the second year, students will go to a new rotation site every five weeks and are expected to fulfill the hours required at different sites, including evenings, weekends, and on-call coverage.

Is it possible to work while enrolled in the program?

Working while enrolled in the program is not feasible. The full-time didactic year curriculum is rigorous including mandatory class attendance as well as required reading and other course preparation outside of classroom time. During the second year while doing clinical rotations, in addition to the hours you need to spend at the rotation site, you will be expected to do outside reading and may be given written assignments by some clinical preceptors. Some rotations require weekend, evening, or on-call coverage, thereby making it unfeasible to plan on having a regular schedule throughout the clinical year.

International Applicants

Do applicants who have a medical degree from another country have to take any additional courses before applying to the program?

No additional courses are required if you have completed all prerequisite courses with a U.S. equivalent grade of solid B or better. These courses must still have been taken within 10 years of applying. No exceptions are made.

Can I transfer credits or coursework into the program if I took equivalent courses at another school?

No. All students accepted into the program must go through the entire 2-year curriculum regardless of previous coursework or training. Advanced placement will not be awarded to any applicant to the Physician Assistant Program, regardless of prior education or experience.

Do I need to have patient care experience in the United States?

While the Admissions Committee may consider experience gained in another country, hands-on patient care experience in the United States is also recommended.

PA/MPH Dual Degree Program

If I apply to the Dual Degree Program but am not accepted into the PA program, can I still be considered for the MPH program?

No. For the Dual PA/MPH Program, you must first be accepted to the PA Program. Your application will then be forwarded to the MPH Admissions Committee for consideration. If you are not accepted into the PA program but are still interested in the MPH Program, you would need to apply to that program separately at: https://bouve.northeastern.edu/health-sciences/programs/master-public-health/

If I am accepted into the PA/MPH Dual Degree program but later change my mind about enrolling in the MPH portion, can I still enroll in just the PA Program?

Yes. You can still matriculate in the PA Program only.

If I am accepted into the PA/MPH Dual Degree Program, can I defer enrollment in either program until the next year?

No. If accepted into the Dual Degree Program, you must matriculate in both programs during the same calendar year. The MPH Program begins in January each year, and the PA Program begins in August of the same year.